involution Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun reduction in size of an organ or part (as in the return of the uterus to normal size after childbirth)
  2. noun a long and intricate and complicated grammatical construction
  3. noun marked by elaborately complex detail
    intricacy; elaboration; elaborateness.
  4. noun the act of sharing in the activities of a group
    engagement; involvement; participation.
    • the teacher tried to increase his students' engagement in class activities
  5. noun the process of raising a quantity to some assigned power
    exponentiation.
  6. noun the action of enfolding something
    enfolding.

WordNet

In`vo*lu"tion noun
Etymology
L. involutio: cf. F. involution. See Involve.
Definitions
  1. The act of involving or infolding.
  2. The state of being entangled or involved; complication; entanglement.
    All things are mixed, and causes blended, by mutual involutions. Glanvill.
  3. That in which anything is involved, folded, or wrapped; envelope. Sir T. Browne.
  4. (Gram.) The insertion of one or more clauses between the subject and the verb, in a way that involves or complicates the construction.
  5. (Math.) The act or process of raising a quantity to any power assigned; the multiplication of a quantity into itself a given number of times; -- the reverse of evolution.
  6. (Geom.) The relation which exists between three or more sets of points, a.a', b.b', c.c', so related to a point O on the line, that the product Oa.Oa' = Ob.Ob' = Oc.Oc' is constant. Sets of lines or surfaces possessing corresponding properties may be in involution.
  7. (Med.) The return of an enlarged part or organ to its normal size, as of the uterus after pregnancy.

Webster 1913